The story of the Crawley family and their servants in 1910s and 1920s England has captivated viewers of all stripes, who have remained committed in the show despite numerous questionable storytelling judgments. Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dan Stevens, Lily James, and Dame Maggie Smith were among the cast members of the series, which aired from 2010 until 2015. The series did not finish there, as it was revived in a film sequel in 2019, with a sequel titled “Downton Abbey: A New Era” being announced shortly after.
Viewers of the show and its film adaptation still have unanswered questions about it, both about the tale it conveys and about the show in general. Some of the most common queries have centered around the show’s inspiration and whether or not it is based on a true story.
A New Era is a follow-up to 2019’s Downton Abbey film, which depicted the Downton family hosting the King and Queen of England. It is about the conflict between modernity and a mystery from the past. Dame Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess exposes a mystery from her past while Mary (Michelle Dockery) works with a filmmaker and movie star (new cast members Hugh Dancy and Dominic West) to create “a moving picture” at her sprawling estate.
Downton Abbey: A New Era will feature a mix of old and new cast members, including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, and others, as well as Dancy, West, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Jonathan Zacca. After being postponed from Christmas 2021 to March 2022, Downton Abbey: A New Era will be released on May 20, 2021.
Is “Downton Abbey: A New Era” based on a true story?
“Downton Abbey” is not based on a genuine story, but it did get a few historical facts correct. In an interview with Vanity Fair, executive producer Gareth Neame revealed that he came up with the original concept for a series set in a country estate, believing it to be a setting rich enough in storytelling possibilities to support the weight of a TV show. Given how Fellowes penned the 2001 picture “Gosford Park,” Neame went on to approach Julian Fellowes with the concept.
The film “Gosford Park,” directed by Robert Altman, is set in 1932 and stars Michael Gambon as an industrialist named Sir William McCordle. McCordle invites a bunch of individuals to his country house, each bringing their own servants with them. Sir McCordle is finally murdered, leaving a house full of suspects as a result of the mingling of different groups both above and downstairs.
Fellowes, according to Neame, wasn’t initially on board. “When I initially approached Julian, he was very, very hesitant about going to the land of ‘Gosford Park,’ because it had been such a turning point,” Neame recalled, alluding to Fellowes’ Oscar win for his work on the film.
However, Neame persuaded Fellowes to consider the concept, and a few weeks later, Fellowes presented Neame with a detailed plan for the first season.